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#RethinkSecurity, Learning for peace from Peacemakers, Challenging one-sided reporting of militarism, scrutinising armed drones and evens from around the peace movement
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Quakers from Leeds hold up their Stop Trident Submarine banner during the 27th February march through London
Armed Forces presence in Leicester city centre | Photo:Ambrose Musiyiwa, CivicLeicester
Dear <<First Name>>,
It was great to connect with lots of Friends at Yearly Meeting to explore peace work together. We met Quakers from around Britain and beyond and were inspired to hear about the passion and service they bring. If you haven't heard it, you can listen to the Swarthmore Lecture 2016 online,  which this year focused on peacebuilding in East Africa.

Izzy and Ellis have got several peace education events coming up including the Peaceful Schools conference, piloting a school-based human rights week and a train-the-trainer in peer mediation for Friends in Mid Wales. We also want to encourage teachers to attend the Facing History and Ourselves seminar on 25-29 June at Friends House, a week-long training opportunity exploring how history is shaped by hatred, indifference, and denial, as well as by caring, compassion, and responsibility.

June is also the month of action against nuclear weapons assembled at AWE Burghfield near Reading- see Peace Exchange for key dates.

In Peace,

Ellis, Marigold, Izzy, Sam and Tim,
The Peace Education & Disarmament staff team
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Featured Story of Witness:
Challenging media bias on militarisation
"I feel strongly that the culture of militarism in schools ought to be avoided."
Clare Scott, Lucy Pollard, Sarah Sheard and Ann James heard what they felt was a one-sided piece on the Today Programme about the introduction of cadets in state schools. Independently of each other, they contacted the BBC to question the uncritical depiction of militarism and found themselves on the radio too.

Read more in Our Stories | Listen to the interview on BBC Radio 4's Feedback programme from March 2016 (starts at 12:07).
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Click on this image of a map pin to see the events listed in Peace Exchange.
BOOK for the Learning Through Peace Conference 24-6-2016
Read the new Trident Briefing from the Network of Christian Peace Organiations

Get Learning for Peace into schools

The West Midlands Quaker Peace Education Project (also known as Peacemakers) has brought out a new publication – Learning for Peace: A guide to developing outstanding SMSC in your primary school.
This is not the kind of book you want looking pretty on a shelf; we want it in the hands of teachers who will use it. Peacemakers are looking for volunteers to promote the book in local schools and run introductory sessions providing people with a taster of its activities. | Download Flyer for Learning for Peace
Order Learning for Peace

Poster for Eye in the Sky film, reproduced for review pruposesEyes on UK drone strikes

In both fiction and reality, more attention is being given to the United Kingdom's used of armed drones.
In the recent film, Eye in the Sky, an attack on Kenyan civilians is imminent and the only weapon available is an armed drone overhead. This urgent "ticking bomb" scenario, akin to that used to justify the use of torture, is a contrivance that does not match the reality of ongoing drone warfare in which hundreds of strikes have been launched.
Nevertheless, the film gives real insights and provokes difficult debate.
It shows the global web of people and technology that underpins armed drones and the dissonance of Whitehall politicians sipping coffee while debating whether to give the kill order. Who of the many players in the complex chain of command is responsible?
It shows the surreal calculations to determine an acceptable level of collateral damage- civilian deaths. Does British citizenship offer a terrorist protection? We even see micro-drones the size of birds and insects used for surveillance; these may not exist yet, but we know this kind of drone is in development. The script and performances avoid demonising any of the people involved, showing their humanity whatever role they play.
It's the kind of film that could be used effectively with young people in a peace education context to prompt engagement with the ethics of violence. Watch Eye in the Sky Trailer

Meanwhile, in the real world, the same issues have been discussed. The joint parliamentary committee for human rights, chaired by Labour's Harriet Harman MP, delivered its report on targeted killing by British drones. The Committee said the government need to be clearer about when the law of war applies and when a threat is genuinely "imminent". Significantly, it also called for independent oversight and accountability for drone strikes. Read the full report from the committee.

To oppose all violence means rejecting even the most scrupulous approach to killing with drones, but increased scrutiny of the human rights consequences of a rapidly proliferating weapon system is needed.

For updates from the Drone Campaign Network, subscribe to their newsletter.
Stop targeted killing with the Drone Campaign Network

Rethink Security



Quakers, other peacebuilders and academics have combined to say #RethinkSecurity. Known as the Ammerdown group, they are seeking a public conversation in search of a new vision for peace and security.
 
The group challenges the “outmoded narrative” which focuses on military and economic power without looking at the roots of insecurity. With the new paper “Rethinking Security”, the group calls for a public conversation in search of a new vision for peace and security.
Visit  www.rethinkingsecurity.org.uk to learn more.

Peace Education at the UN

The Peace Education Programme made a submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child about our concerns at the ‘new militarism’ in Britain. We raised concerns about:
  • The recruitment of under-18s into the British Armed Forces, which the Government recently indicated it may attempt to increase due to recruitment shortages
  • The Government’s Prevent strategy, and how it may be contributing to the marginalisation of Muslim children and silencing debate and dissent
  • Lack of statutory support for peace education. 
Our submission has been supported by the work of the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva.
 
Read Quakers in Britain submission to the UN 

PEACE EXCHANGE EVENTS

Peace Exchange features events and updates for Quakers who wish to be involved in the wider Peace Movement.  Many of the actions listed are not organised by Quakers. Some of the actions listed may involve the risk of taking part in arrestable offences - those considering participation need to be aware of this.
Submit an event to Peace Exchange
16 June – Preventing Violence through SMSC Education| 
£10 | 9:30 am - 4:00 pm | 
| Friends House, 173-177 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2BJ
This whole day workshop will bring together approaches from Facing History and Ourselves and Quaker Peace and Social Witness
https://www.facinghistory.org/calendar/w2016uk8-how-prevent-violence-and-create-peaceful-schools
 
18 June - Making the Best use of Social Media” | Part 3/3 of Sowing Seeds of Peace
10.30am-5pm | Friends House, 173 Euston Road, NW1 2BJ
Workshop-based training-day organised by Christian CND and Quaker Peace & Social Witness,to give you the skills you need to communicate with confidence as ‘decision time’ on Trident fast approaches. | £10/£5 concessions (or £25/£10 for all 3 days) |  Sowing the Seeds Flyer

18-20 June   | Quaker Service in Wartime Exhibition
10am-4pm, Minehead Quaker Meeting House, TA24 5DJ
A touring exhibition showing work done by Quakers for people affected by the two World Wars, made in association with the Institute for Humanitarian and Conflict Response at Manchester University.
Quaker Service in Wartime Exhibition Flyer

20 June | Taking Action on Militarism
7pm for 7.30-9pm, Quaker Meeting House, 13 Bath Place Taunton TA1 4 EP
Ellis Brooks from Quaker Peace & Social Witness will be running a session for Taunton Quakers exploring the militarisation of British society and how this can be challenged.
Download a flyer

24 June | Learning through Peace Conference
Learning Through Peace: Developing Whole School Values and Outstanding SMSC. This day conference will focus on how to build a peaceful school community in which all pupils and staff can flourish. Please promote this to primary schools near you- flyers are available.
Find out more
  
25-29 June Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behaviour 
A five day seminar for teachers exploring how history is shaped by hatred, indifference, and denial, as well as by caring, compassion, and responsibility. Friends House, 173-177 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2BJ
Find out more and book
 
27 June – “Faith Day of Action” at Burghfield. 
Quakers will be joining those from other churches and faiths on 27 June as part of Trident Ploughshares ‘Month of Direct Action Against Trident Replacement’. Contact:timw@quaker.org.uk. http://tridentploughshares.org/june-2016-a-month-of-daily-direct-action-against-trident-renewal-please-join-us/

10 July 2016 - International Arms Trade Gathering
11am-5pm, St Hilda's East Community Centre, 8 Club Row, London, E2 7EY, London
Farnborough International is a major arms fair in the UK, taking place every two years, with the next event in July 2016. The UK government always invites Saudi Arabia to send a military delegation to the fair, where it can browse weapons from most of the world's major arms companies.
Prepare for protest by joining an international anti-arms trade gathering with workshops and skillsharing.
Email action@caat.org.uk to book your free place.

11 July - Day of action against Farnborough Arms Fair
Details TBA
Join us to take action against the Farnborough arms fair which will bring together major arms companies with military delegations from repressive regimes such as Saudi Arabia. More details will be announced nearer the time.

13 July - Stop Trident Mass Lobby of Parliament
CND, along with twenty national organisations, has called a mass lobby of MPs to take place in Parliament on Wednesday 13 July. Tell your MP why you want them to Stop Trident. 18 August- September 2016 | Echo chamber: Voices of conscience
11-4, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ
Echo Chamber is a sound and photography exhibition marking 100 years of conscientious objection
Find out more

24 Sept | Amos Day 2016 | 
10am – 4pm, St Mary-at-Hill Church, Lovat Lane, Eastcheap, London EC3R 8EE
More information about Amos Day 2016
Hear outspoken peace activist Sahar Vardi and Joel Rodriguez from CEPAD in Nicaragua.
Based in Jerusalem, Sahar coordinates the Israel programme for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), focusing on countering the militarisation of Israeli society. Sahar started protesting against Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people at a very young age. She used to join her father to do agricultural work with Palestinian villagers, mainly planting trees. She was conscripted to the Israeli Defence Forces at age 18 but refused to serve and spent several months in military prison for conscientious objection.

1st - 8th October | Drones Week of Action Week of Action on Armed Drones 
The theme of the week is Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Out of Control and there will be briefings available in September.
Find out more from the Drone Campaign Network

14-15 October | Annual Peace History Conference
An annual seminar series open to the public. For information, to attend or volunteer please contact Rachel Julian email r.julian@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
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